Kevin Harvick banks on Denny Hamlin to win Bristol playoff race despite massive performance slump
Kevin Harvick still has confidence in Denny Hamlin and his No:11 Joe Gibbs Racing crew to bounce back at Bristol playoff race.
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Denny Hamlin and Kevin Harvick (Via IMAGO)
At the start of the 2024 season, Denny Hamlin in the No:11 Toyota Camry was the driver to beat, as he was able to pull-off consistent race winning calibre performances. He earned three race wins before hitting the ceiling, as Hamlin failed to recreate the strong runs and got caught in other drivers; mess due to having poor track position.
Denny Hamlin is currently facing the danger of an embarrassing R-16 exit from the playoffs. He is 6 points off the base line and has to outscore the likes of Brad Keselowski, Ty Gibbs and Chase Briscoe to make it into the next round. Though the momentum and the form aren’t on his side, he does have a track advantage as Bristol has been a venue he has always been super productive.
Hence, 2014 NASCAR Cup champion Kevin Harvick while making his predictions for the Bristol race backed Denny Hamlin to win. The ex-SHR driver didn’t want to make this guess as he has long been wrongfully predicting Hamlin wins, but he couldn’t stop himself from making the claim as the No:11 team is really good there.
I don’t know. I’m almost getting tired of guessing because my guesses have been so wrong. I think if you go off of the first race it’s going to be a Gibbs car with the way that they ran. But gosh do I just, I think I have to go off the Denny Hamlin thing because he’s just been so wrong for me. I can’t do it. I’m going with Denny.Kevin Harvick said via Happy Hour podcast.
Kevin Harvick underestimated the significance of the wild card races at Glen and Atlanta
While talking about Hamlin’s struggle, Harvick highlighted that it is the Atlanta and Watkins Glen wild card races that caused it. He now admits that the first two rounds of the post-season are structured in a way that is capable of eliminating two drivers who came into the round as the championship contender.
Who would have thought Denny Hamlin would be minus six going into the last race of round one? Personally, I think I underestimated Atlanta, Watkins Glen. I was just way underestimating the significance of the way that the races were structured in round one and could eliminate at least two, what I thought would be two championship contenders, possibly if they could put it all together.Kevin Harvick said.
The Bristol race can be an event where Denny Hamlin can easily prove his actual worth, as if he can win it, he will have the best momentum on his side to contend for the championship. It will be interesting to see if the No:11 team can perform under pressure.
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Justin P Joy
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